10 thoughts on “England trims squad to prepare for France match”

1. Nice to see Tommy Taylor retained. I’m yet to be convinced by LCD. Mullen in as bench cover if Marler is suspended,as seems likely. I wonder if Daly will get a run out in place of JJ?

   Slater being binned suggests super Maro will be in at lock again with Robshaw on the b/side.

   I wonder how England will play it. My guess is keep the ball moving to tire out the big French guys.
   That being the case will Care start? Lets be honest all we want is a win!

2. Really hopes he sticks with Daly on the bench drops Cole for Brookes and starts with Care.

3. i wonder if this game will see Tulagi start at 12 with Farrell at 10, it seems he wanted Tui back in as quickly as possible and Farrell is much more suited to handle the big runners coming down that channel.

   1. I’d be happy to see that. Also happy with Ford/Farrell starting and Farrell/Tuilagi from around 50 mins. Prefer not to see Eddie go all Sven Goran Eriksson like he did against Wales though – no other backs changes until at least 60-65 mins and then only if necessary.

      Looks like it’ll be Fofana/Fickou for France, if Noves has any sense. Neither is particularly big.

4. Has there been an explanation on Goode’s inclusion? Assume it must be because there’s a back with an injury problem?

   I expect to see that same starting XV to be honest, and I can’t really disagree with that. Cole and Youngs are certainly the two under the most pressure, but it’s tough to change a winning side.

   1. Goode has had a number of good performances for Sarries, and a good try at the weekend. I hope Jones is not going to ditch Daly after the Wales second half. Perhaps he’s there to light a fire under Brown’s backside.

      For me Cole has to be dropped. Now a liability rather than an asset, and historically has struggled against the French scrum.

      1. I really hope Daly doesn’t get dropped – he’s done nothing wrong at all.

         I agree Goode is playing well, and I do hope he is seriously being considered as a replacement for Brown. But there is normally some sort of explanation regarding injury when they include extra players so I’m just wondering why that isn’t the case here.

         I agree on Cole, but I wonder how fit Brookes is? He hasn’t been back long, and Cole played over 70 minutes on Saturday so it seems as though Jones still isn’t that confident in him?

         Cole’s troubles were always up against Domingo, so I’d hope he’d be ok now.

   2. I wonder if his performance for Sarries at the weekend had anything to do with Goode being back with the squad. Makes sense to keep him in there in case Brown or Daly pick up an injury in training though.

5. Barring injuries I reckon he will stick with the same team – If Marler is banned then Mako will move up and Mullan to the bench….teecee I dont think this is the kind of match for ‘run outs’ as much as I would like to see the Manu / Daly combination regularly. Gameplan I assume will be much the same in an attempt to get up front dominance. Backs must kick really well in the opening 20 to ensure the partisan crowd (boisterous – late kick off) and large French pack are kept quiet. Backs must nail chances.

   huge fear that we may see ‘gallic’ France this match and they put in their once a year worldly performance, the offloads connect, the round the back shovel pass works, tight five pop up on the wing and collect low passes rather than knocking on…..and of course it would be very english to butcher the slam in these circumstances. Here is where management and the coaching team earn their salaries and certainly the influence of Jones mindset could be influential.

   1. Yes the French psyche is a curious thing. They are probably the most fragile of teams mentally in that if you start well and score early their heads will go down but if they start well and score early their tails are up.
      The key to beating France is to never let them get ahead. In the completely opposite to Wales the further ahead you are the less expansive they become

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